Afterwards, the Geats set to work on establishing an embankment, tall and noticeable, a beacon so conspicuous, they had completed their construction within ten days. It was dedicated to Beowulf; whatever had survived the fire was lodged in the mound, behind a wall built as prestigious as their hero had deserved. And they buried torques and jewels in the mound and a store of valuable items that any man would greatly desire. The Geats had given the ancient treasures to lie beneath the Earth, The gold beneath the soil, as worthless as pitiful rocks ever were to men. Then twelve warriors circled the tomb on horses, chieftain’s songs, warrior lords, all of them agitated, mourning lamenting the loss of their king. They praised his heroic triumphs and expressed their gratitude; which was most conventional, for every man should mourn for a leader whom he cherishes and be mourned as a sterling memory when the moment comes when that leader should die. The Geat people, his close friends, mourned for the death of their king. The Geats claimed that of all leaders in the history of kings Beowulf was most honorable, legitimate, and chivalrous, satisfying to his people as kind and keen in winning glory.
Lines 3156-3182
Afterwards, the Geats set to work on establishing
an embankment, tall and noticeable,
a beacon so conspicuous,
they had completed their construction within ten days.
It was dedicated to Beowulf; whatever had survived the fire
was lodged in the mound, behind a wall
built as prestigious as their hero had deserved.
And they buried torques and jewels in the mound
and a store of valuable items that any man
would greatly desire.
The Geats had given the ancient treasures to lie beneath the Earth,
The gold beneath the soil,
as worthless as pitiful rocks ever were to men.
Then twelve warriors circled the tomb on horses,
chieftain’s songs, warrior lords,
all of them agitated, mourning
lamenting the loss of their king.
They praised his heroic triumphs
and expressed their gratitude; which was most conventional,
for every man should mourn for a leader whom he cherishes
and be mourned as a sterling memory when the moment comes
when that leader should die.
The Geat people, his close friends,
mourned for the death of their king.
The Geats claimed that of all leaders in the history of kings
Beowulf was most honorable, legitimate, and chivalrous,
satisfying to his people as kind and keen in winning glory.